Chicken feather waste degradation by Alternaria tenuissima and its application on plant growth

Abstract

The use of chicken as food is rising day today and as byproduct 8.5 billion tons, poultry feathers are produced worldwide, whereas India contributes about 350 million tons per annum. It is a waste product of poultry industries, are considered a potential high-quality protein supplement owing to their crude protein content of more than 85%. In the present study Alternaria tenuissima a keratinophilic fungus was used for feather degradation in submerged state fermentation and soil. Total Protein releases were studied in submerged state fermentation by A. tenuissima are 122µg/ml and 238µg/ml in 15 and 25 days respectively. Lysine, Methionine, Cysteine and Valine were found 15.8, 6.8, 20.2, 7.5 µg/ml in 25 days, respectively. Chicken feathers were mixed with soil and inoculated with spore suspension for degradation of complex keratin protein into simpler organic forms. A. tenuissima degraded feathers in soil and enhances nutritional value. Five-gram feathers in 250 g soil mixtures were found better growth enhancers and increased height. This work will reduce the solid waste generated in the form of feathers from the poultry industry, and convert it into a simpler organic form that can be used by plants.

Arthroderma tuberculatum and Arthroderma multifidum Isolated from Soils in Rook (Corvus frugilegus) Colonies as Producers of Keratinolytic Enzymes and Mineral Forms of N and S

“…The highest concentrations of tryptophan, cysteine, asparagine, glutamine, and serotonin were recorded in the tested hydrolysates, and these values ranged from 0.0356 to 0.0764 mg∙g −1 . The values are different from those that were obtained by Dos Santos Cardoso et al [ 48 ] in hydrolyzed feather protein and by Kumari and Kumar [ 49 ].…”

Identification of Keratinophilic Fungi in Urban Waste and Cattle Field Soil of Kanpur, India for Environmental Pollution Management

“…All the habitats discussed above are hygienic and epidemiological importance. However, in reports many fungi are used for feather waste utilization for biofertilizers [28][29][30][31][32][33][34].…”

Microbial Hydrolysed Feather Protein as a Source of Amino Acids and Protein in the Diets of Animals Including Poultry

“…due to feather degradation. [6] Found A. tenuissima a potent feather degrading fungus and increased the nourishing value of the soil by adding proteins (238 μg/ml), cysteine (20.2 μg/ml), lysine (15.8 μg/ml), methionine (6.8 μg/ml) and valine (7.5 μg/ml) in 25 days.…”

“…Keratinase is an enzyme hydrolyses a broad range of protein substrate including casein, collagen, elastin and keratin [4]. Scientist reported degradation of chicken feathers and other keratinous waste materials by fungi [5] and decomposed feathers were utilized as nitrogenous fertilizers due to their high value protein content [6,7]. This feature of keratin protein can accomplish the shortage of meat raw materials and achieve desire of manufacturer to reduce production costs, and the availability of alternative sources of protein [8].…”